::  Point of View  ::

Good news can be downright depressing for folks in the media – cooperation and optimism just don't quite cut it when it comes to writing scrolling headlines or front page stories. Just as we are tempted to stare at traffic accidents as we drive past, there's something about bad news - conflict, disagreements, disasters and catastrophe - that compels us to read on or to pause the channel flipping.

Today’s newspapers, 24-hour cable networks and breaking news websites are overflowing with gloom and doom that can be delivered to your doorstep, your email, even your cell phone or PDA if you so desire. The task of reporting positive stories seems to be diminishing over time. Is there any happy news out there any more? Do people want to hear upbeat stories?

Yes, and yes. This week in an attempt to make that good news a little easier to find, I am launching a new project called “Stories from our Hometowns.” Our aim is simple: to share stories from Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District that will put a bounce in your step, a smile on your face, and comfort us all about the “good news” that is still out there to share. Each of these stories has to meet one basic requirement: that it tells the story of constructive, positive movement in your hometown in under 300 words. In the coming weeks the very best stories will be posted on my website, and perhaps even become the subject of one of my weekly columns. 

I start with sharing this with you from one of our Hometowns:

Years of industrial decline, economic decay and decreasing levels of educational achievement have tarnished the image of the once-bustling city of Petersburg, Virginia in the eyes of the outside world. With over 72% of its babies born outside of wedlock - the highest level in the Commonwealth - and with a high school drop-out rate reaching almost into the double-digits, Petersburg found itself moving towards a cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Enter the bad news headlines.

But there are many in Petersburg working to turn that around by making a difference in the lives of Petersburg’s youth. Almost a decade ago Petersburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Cassandra Burns founded a program called Buddies of Petersburg - or BOP for short - that is designed to teach civic involvement to children class-by-class and child-by-child. 

The only program of its type in Virginia, the BOP program pairs every 6th grader in the city with an older teen mentor to teach them civic values and life skills. After six to nine weeks of mentoring and positive involvement, graduates officially become BOPers, by reciting the BOP creed: “I pledge to believe in myself and have high self-esteem; obey the laws of my city and state and the rules of my school and home; promise to be the best citizen that I can be as a member of the Buddies of Petersburg. BOP!” This may sound simple, but for young children in Petersburg, these are valuable lessons that can have an unlimited positive community impact, and to-date BOP has graduated over 4,000 Petersburg students.

I recently spoke at a ceremony for the 8th graduating class of the Buddies of Petersburg program. What struck me as I sat on stage is how positive these children were. We often times hear children cheering for their favorite sports team, passionately playing video games, or getting excited over a famous celebrity, but as the principals of each Petersburg school were called to the stage, loud cheers and clapping erupted from various sections of the auditorium. I looked out on an audience of hundreds of smiling sixth graders, all wearing their Buddies of Petersburg shirts, and each of them cheering loudly for their principals, their schools, their mentors, and themselves.

These smiling children are proof that those who care enough to make a difference in their hometown can combat negativity with positive change. The most outstanding of those people are frequently the ones with the most difficult, most unattractive, and often least-acknowledged jobs. By sharing a few positive stories we may not cure cancer or find world peace - we may not even always agree - but we can certainly come together to encourage community involvement and participation. So, if you have a positive story, I invite you to take a moment, write it in 300 words or less and email it to me via my website www.house.gov/forbes. We’re looking forward to sharing good news from your hometown! 


:: National Hurricane Preparedness Week ::

"Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy."
- Max Mayfield, Director, National Hurricane Center

National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 15 - 21) reminds us that emergency preparedness planning is not just important for our families and communities, but it is vital to our businesses, as well.  Business Emergency Planning involves preparing not only for emergency situations but for continuity of operations. How quickly your company can get back to business after a hurricane, terrorist attack, fire or flood often depends on emergency planning done today. Start planning now to improve the likelihood that your company will survive and recover. Visit Ready.gov to begin developing a plan: www.ready.gov/business

Also, individuals and families may want to take a look at the following resources to update or reevaluate their emergency plan.
www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes
www.ready.gov